FBI Analysts Fired Over Controversial 2023 Catholic Extremism Memo

Several Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) analysts linked to a 2023 memo concerning potential threats from alleged Catholic violent extremists were dismissed on Friday. These dismissals were part of a broader wave of terminations under the leadership of FBI Director Kash Patel. The terminated employees included four intelligence analysts and a supervisory analyst. The FBI opted not to comment on these actions.

David Laufman, the lawyer representing the dismissed analysts, expressed strong disagreement, stating, “This action is manifestly unjust, completely unsupported by the facts, and subverts standard FBI policy and procedure.” He emphasized that the analysts had provided exceptional and dedicated service to safeguard the nation.

The memo originated from the FBI’s Richmond, Virginia, field office in January 2023. It quickly became a political issue, with congressional Republicans using it as evidence of the FBI, under the Biden administration, allegedly targeting conservatives. Former FBI Director Chris Wray consistently denied these allegations, asserting that the document was retracted soon after being issued and an internal review was initiated. Attorney General Merrick Garland also voiced his disapproval of the memo.

Justice Department investigations into the memo criticized the analytical methods used but did not identify any intentional wrongdoing by the involved analysts. The terminations are part of a larger effort to remove personnel under Patel, a known Trump loyalist. Numerous employees who participated in investigations concerning the former president or those perceived as not aligning with the administration’s agenda have been ousted. Similar actions have been reported within the Justice Department.

An example of this personnel change occurred in February when the FBI dismissed counterintelligence agents involved in the investigation of former President Donald Trump regarding his retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, Florida. The Richmond memo originated from a domestic terrorism probe that sought to connect “Radical Traditionalist Catholic” ideology with racially and ethnically motivated extremists, warning of possible violent actions.

FBI leadership swiftly condemned the document’s findings after its release. An FBI internal review presented to Congress found that the involved individuals did not comply with analytic standards. They failed to acknowledge that the memo conflated religious ideology with racially motivated extremism without adequate evidence or justification. The review highlighted improper use of domestic terrorism terminology, which suggested investigative activities might be based on religious affiliation.

The letter emphasized that the FBI’s core principle is to avoid investigative actions solely based on First Amendment rights. A 2024 Justice Department inspector general report reflected the internal review’s findings, stating there was no evidence of malice or improper intentions by the analysts.